Cigala Cycling Tours
Memorable adventures. New friends.
Cigala Cycling Tours runs premium guided road and gravel cycling holidays across Europe. Founder Matteo Cigala is an Italian former professional and elite racer and a cycling coach. He started the company in 2015 after years of running training camps. His idea was that the best rides come from well-chosen roads and shared moments rather than distance or speed. The company runs small groups on routes it designs itself, aiming for riding that is challenging but achievable, supported but still adventurous.
The trips fall into three groups: Gran Fondo trips built around famous amateur events such as the Strade Bianche, Il Lombardia and the Maratona dles Dolomites; Italian trips through the Dolomites, the Alps, Tuscany and Lake Garda; and gravel trips in Cyprus, Tuscany and the Alps. The company also runs tours to the Algarve, Flanders, the French Alps and Slovenia, and builds custom private tours for groups.
The guides are mostly former professional or semi-professional cyclists. Tours include vehicle and mechanical support on the road, daily briefings, massage therapists and riding groups split by ability. Each trip balances hard riding with good food and comfortable places to stay. Beyond tours, Cigala Cycling offers coaching, an online shop and a members’ community for riders who want to train and ride together.
Chianti & Gran Fondo Strade Bianche
Tour Operator: Cigala Cycling Tours
Italy
6 days (Bike: 5 days)
350 km (~70km per day)
Avid
Mixed on/off-road, Hilly
Guided
Prices from
Guided
€ 1399
Overview
Tour Operator Cigala Cycling Tours
Ride into the legend and take part in the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche
This six-day guided holiday in the heart of Chianti is built around the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche, the amateur event held on the same white gravel roads raced by the pros. Based for five nights at a 4-star historic palace hotel in Radda in Chianti, riders get guaranteed event entry and full race-week support from ex-professional guides.
The week opens with a shake-down ride to Gaiole in Chianti, followed by a recce of the famous sectors south towards Siena, including Monteaperti, Colle Pinzuto, Tolfe and Santa Caterina, with lunch in Piazza del Campo. A Chianti loop through cypress-lined climbs and vineyards and an easy coffee ride to Castellina in Chianti follow, before an evening transfer to Siena to watch the pro race.
The final day is the event itself, with feed zones and mechanical support, finishing in Siena’s Piazza del Campo.
Highlights:
- Guaranteed entry to the Gran Fondo Strade Bianche (Medio Fondo, or Gran Fondo if available)
- Riding the legendary white-road sectors raced by the pros
- Watching the pro race in Siena
- Finishing in Piazza del Campo
- Daily guided rides with ex-pro guides and a full support van
- Optional wine tasting at Castello di Albola
Surface and terrain:
Mix of sealed roads and white gravel roads (strade bianche), with steep cypress-lined climbs and rolling Chianti hills. Expect over 1,000 m of climbing on most days.
Likely weather:
Early March in Chianti is cool and changeable, typically 5 - 15°C, with chilly mornings and occasional showers. Extra layers and rain gear are recommended.
Suitable for:
Fit road and gravel riders wanting to experience a classic Italian event. Open to beginner to expert riders, with two ability groups daily and a choice of Medio Fondo or Gran Fondo distance, but riders should be comfortable with big climbing days on gravel.